? 2 Nov | Girlie AMPS 126; +2= 128 Nausea still + constipation

[Girlie's mom]

Condo: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...ps-599-2-612-6-481-7-310.186164/#post-2067469

Great to see blues again! But she's still off her food and licking her lips, so I think she's still having issues with nausea. Can constipation cause nausea? No poo since the enema on 28 October (day 5 now), but acupuncture vet said on Monday that there wasn't really anything there and to wait another 3 days or so before another enema - does that make sense?

Not sure what's going on with the constipation issues. No major changes, other than addition of AVJ to her diet PM of 28 Oct (day she got the enema), but I stopped that when she started to get nauseated just to see if that was the cause. Clearly, not. She gets Miralax AM and PM and also Cisapride and fresh pumpkin plus extra water mixed in meals and free access to her water fountain (she drinks a lot).

I gave 1/2 tablet of Cerenia last night and the night before. The vet isn't keen to give me a script for Ondansetron, but I'm going to try to persuade her to do so. I assume that I need to stop the Cerenia after 3 days? The vet said I could use it for 5, so not sure...

I'm not sure whether I should give her the Mirtazapine or not, given that she's not keen to eat. I tried Fortiflora: she missed the message that it's kitty crack, @Bronx's dad : absolutely turned her nose up at it.

 

[Girlie's mom]

Just to follow up re: attitude towards food now: I don't think she'd eat if I didn't bring the plate of food to her. She's certainly not looking for food at all. Hmmm....what's up, Girlie?

 

[LizzieInTexas]

Any vomit/white foam? If not you might consider Mirtz. Have you given it before? I sure like using the CBD products for appy enhancement. Can you get it there?

 

[LizzieInTexas]

I tried Fortiflora: she missed the message that it's kitty crack

Yeah, Gizmo doesn't go crazy for it but it does help sometimes. Try just sprinkling it on top (not mixed into the food), I think it is more the smell.

ETA-Ondansteron can cause constipation

 

[Girlie's mom]

Any vomit/white foam? If not you might consider Mirtz. Have you given it before? I sure like using the CBD products for appy enhancement. Can you get it there?

No vomit or attempt to vomit. She's been getting the Mirtz every am since the beginning as we had such appy issues. "CBD" products - what are these?

Yeah, Gizmo doesn't go crazy for it but it does help sometimes. Try just sprinkling it on top (not mixed into the food), I think it is more the smell.

ETA-Ondansteron can cause constipation

I tried both, and just a little bit: neither she nor my civvie wanted anything to do with it! Gotta laugh - cats!

 

[LizzieInTexas]

"CBD" products - what are these

Cannabis without the "high" (thc?). I use Canna Companion.

 

[Girlie's mom]

Cannabis without the "high" (thc?). I use Canna Companion.

They ship everywhere EXCEPT Australia! Sigh...

Oh no - Ondansetron can cause constipation? We don't need any more of that!

I wonder if the constipation is causing the nausea? I hate to make another trip to the vet so soon...poor Girlie.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Cerenia can be given once daily, indefinitely, as long as their aren't liver issues. And yes, constipation can cause them to go off their food. 5 days is a long time between poos. Have you seen the website http://www.felineconstipation.org/introduction.html

Have you tried slippery elm bark?

 

[Bronx's dad (GA)]

I tried Fortiflora: she missed the message that it's kitty crack, @Bronx's dad : absolutely turned her nose up at it.

Darn! I guess the kitties from down under have opposite taste buds. Maybe she'll like PetAlive Natural Moves then since most kitties on this side of the equator hate it . The folks who can get it in their kitties says it works great for constipation.

 

[Christie & Maverick]

I'm sorry there are still some appy troubles. Didn't you mention once that Girlie loves her salmon and shrimp FF (I think?) maybe there were too many varieties recently offered, can you go back to some go-to food she really likes? Sending feel good vines for Girlie..no poo in 5 days...eek...sending good poo vines too.

 

[LizzieInTexas]

They ship everywhere EXCEPT Australia!

There are others. @Bronx's dad Paul, do you know of any that ship overseas? Darrah, possibly from the UK?

This is Gizmo's kitty crack. I crush it up and sprinkle it on top. He has to be really, really sick to resist it.

PureBites Duck Liver Freeze-Dried Dog Treats

 

[Girlie's mom]

Cerenia can be given once daily, indefinitely, as long as their aren't liver issues. And yes, constipation can cause them to go off their food. 5 days is a long time between poos. Have you seen the website http://www.felineconstipation.org/introduction.html

Have you tried slippery elm bark?

I've read the info on that website, but I can't figure out how to help her now as we seem to be trying just about everything lately. Can cats get to the point where they need regular enemas?

I'd like to try the SEB, but I'm not sure which kind to get here in Australia. I assume I have to find one in powdered form - does it matter which brand or strength you use for cats?

 

[LizzieInTexas]

You might try a health food store. I used to use SEB but switched to Marshmallow Root. Similar properties and preparation. SEB comes loose powder or capsules. MMR (that I use) is in capsules. Dosage is 1/2 capsule 2x/day.
http://www.felinecrf.org/holistic_treatments.htm#slippery_elm_bark

What Is Slippery Elm Bark?
The natural remedy most commonly used for CKD cats is slippery elm bark powder (ulmus rubra or ulmus fulva). Slippery elm bark is a herbal remedy used for most kinds of digestive or intestinal problems - it can be used for nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation. As a side effect it can also improve coat dryness and dandruff.

Slippery elm bark is a demulcent, which means it soothes the stomach lining and intestinal walls and reduces irritation. This can be particularly useful in combating the nausea and excess stomach acid which many CKD cats experience. You will usually see an improvement within a day or two of starting slippery elm bark. A potential nutritional prophylactic for the reduction of feline hairball symptoms (2004) Dann JR, Adler MA, Duffy KL and Giffard CJ The Journal of Nutrition 134(8) pp2124S-2125S found that it also appears to help with hairballs.

You can use slippery elm bark in addition to famotidine (Pepcid AC) if necessary (though with luck the slippery elm bark alone will suffice), but do not give these treatments at the same time (see cautions).

Gastrafate is a product available in the USA. It used to contain sucralfate but according to Expedited management of canine and feline vomiting and diarrhea: observational study in 3952 dogs and 2248 cats using sucralfate-like potency-enhanced polyanionic phyto-saccharide elm mucilage(2013) McCullough RWOpen Journal of Veterinary Medicine 3 pp228-234, it now contains a patented ingredient referred to as "magnesium chelated elm mucilage" or "polyanionic phyto-saccharide of elm mucilage (PEPPS)...The resultant potency-enhanced phyto-saccharide (PEPPS) is muco-specific and capable of attaining augmented surface concentration of slippery elm."

The study states that "with PEPPS the concentration of elm USP administered is less than 8% the slippery elm dose recommended by holistic veterinarians...Administration of PEPPS was in accordance to weight. On average dogs or cats weighing less than 25 lbs received daily doses upwards of 72 mg." The study indicates that the product was effective but you need a prescription from your vet in order to purchase it, so buying slippery elm bark over the counter is probably easier and cheaper.

Drugs mentions that Gastrafate contains calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate (slippery elm bark also contains calcium), so it is probably better not to use it if your cat has hypercalcaemia.

Marshmallow Root
I am occasionally asked about marshmallow root. This shares some similarities with slippery elm bark and some people use it instead of slippery elm bark, but slippery elm bark is used most often on the CKD support groups, so I am more familiar with it.

 

[Bronx's dad (GA)]

There are others. @Bronx's dad Paul, do you know of any that ship overseas? Darrah, possibly from the UK?

This one says it's available for Australia, heard it is a good brand: https://cwcbdoil.com.au/

 

[LizzieInTexas]

can you go back to some go-to food she really likes?

Yep. Do this. I had to do the same in the begining and then restart the better food (mixed with FF) once I got him eating.

 

[Alicia & Maggie (GA)]

Sorry she having appy issues.

 

[Girlie's mom]

Mobile vet coming to do the enema this afternoon. May see about getting an U/S tomorrow: would that be kidney? pancreas? No clue!

Yep. Do this. I had to do the same in the begining and then restart the better food (mixed with FF) once I got him eating.

She went off the FF a while ago, before the appy issues: decided she didn't want it anymore; of course, I'd just bought something like 20 cans. Guess what you're getting for the next month, Max!

 

[Girlie's mom]

This one says it's available for Australia, heard it is a good brand: https://cwcbdoil.com.au/

You all are so good to me! Does it matter that it's in Olive oil? Why do I think that Olive oil is bad for cats?

 

[Girlie's mom]

You all are so good to me! Does it matter that it's in Olive oil? Why do I think that Olive oil is bad for cats?

@Bronx's dad Sorry! Just saw that that was the human one and that they've got a pet-specific one. Great!

 

[Megan and Boots (GA)]

Hope Girlie gets some relief soon. Sounds like what we're dealing with with Boots the past 2 weeks. Constipation and lack of appetite. Seems like nothing's getting Boots to eat more than a bit or two at a time (we've now tried Cerenia, Ondansetron, Mirtazapine, and Cyproheptadine (NOT all at the same time!) and no luck. We're heading back to the vet this afternoon. 8 days since his last enema and very little poop since then (though little food too, so that could contribute). I hope we can both figure something out for our kitties soon! Do you know if Girlie has any pancreas issues? I'm wondering if Boots isn't experiencing a prolonged acute pancreatitis flare, because I know he's got pancreas issues. Maybe some bloodwork and/or ultrasound to check for Girlie?